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Olympic heptathlete found safe after two-week disappearance

The two-time Olympic heptathlete Odile Ahouanwanou of Benin has returned home "safe and sound" after missing for 17 days.

Olympic heptathlete Odile Ahouanwanou of Benin has been found safe in France after disappearing for two weeks. The 33-year-old was last seen on Sept. 10, after dropping her child off at a daycare center in Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France.

According to a report from Le Parisien, Ahouanwanou returned home on the night of Sept. 26. However, the details surrounding her disappearance remain unclear and police are continuing to investigate.

Ahouanwanou’s sudden disappearance was a mystery in France and Benin, where she is a prominent figure in the sport of track and field. She is a double gold medalist at the African Championships and the Beninese national record holder in the heptathlon.

On Sept. 18, Ahouanwanou was placed on the wanted persons list. Investigators looked into her lifestyle habits, interviewed members of her inner circle, and reviewed data from her mobile phone and bank accounts. French police are still considering the possibility of a voluntary disappearance. The investigation is still ongoing.

Despite intensive searches and public appeals, the exact reason behind her disappearance has not yet been disclosed. 

Ahouanwanou placed 15th in the heptathlon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and finished eighth at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. Her best score of 6,274 points is the national record for Benin.

Two-time Olympic heptathlete reported missing in France

On Sept. 10, Odile Ahouanwanou of Benin dropped off her son at a nursery and has not been seen since.

French authorities are searching for Odile Ahouanwanou, an Olympic heptathlete, who has been missing since Sept. 10. The 33-year-old, who represented the small west African nation of Benin at the 2012 and 2020 Olympics, was last seen in Rouen dropping off her child at a nursery on the morning of Sept. 10. She did not return to pick up her son, and was later reported missing.

According to a report from France Bleu, the police are considering the possibility of a voluntary disappearance. This scenario refers to a situation where a person deliberately goes missing without being a victim of a crime or other external factors. People may voluntarily disappear for various personal reasons, such as to escape financial difficulties or to start a new life.

Ahouanwanou placed 15th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and eighth at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. Her best score of 6,274 points stands as the Benin national record.

French police have reportedly registered Ahouanwanou in the national wanted persons file, questioned witnesses and examined her daily habits. They are also working with phone operators, hospitals, banks and airlines to help trace her steps. The athlete’s Volkswagen Polo is believed to be in use, although no sightings have been confirmed.

Authorities stress that, at this stage, there is no evidence to suggest foul play, but the investigation remains open. Her son is currently in the care of a family friend. The police are looking to the public for any information that could help locate Ahouanwanou, and her disappearance remains a mystery.